Shopping in Buenos Aires Cheat Sheet

Apart from more important things like soccer, wine, and the perfect cut of meat, Argentines care a lot about how they present themselves. Whether it’s a handcrafted silver cufflink or a skirt that sways perfectly in the spring breeze, Buenos Aires’ passion for class, sophistication, and romanticism seeps into the careful way porteños (Buenos Aires locals) dress. If you’re at all retail-inclined or care about bringing home quality gifts, shopping in Buenos Aires is sure to make you swoon. From designer labels to handmade leather goods, the city’s shopping lineup is arguably the best in Latin America.

♦ Shopping in Buenos Aires Malls

If you’re looking for the latest in Argentine fashion and international trends, head to one of Buenos Aires’ many fantastic malls. Always packed, you’ll catch onto the contagious energy while perusing Argentine brands alongside global favorites like Nike, Zara, Lacoste, and Puma. Abasto Shopping Center on Corrientes and Alto Palermo Mall on Coronel Diaz are two great indoor options. For a bit more sunshine and a breath of fresh air you can find a slew of outdoor shops along the pedestrian Florida street, a strip than stretches from Palermo and San Telmo, or along Murillo street, in Villa Crespo.

♦ Buenos Aires Boutique Shops

Something wonderfully “Buenos Aires” are the tree-lined plazas dotted with boutique stores and cafes of every type imaginable. For a more “Argentine” shopping experience, we recommend spending a day wandering through the boutiques of Palermo Soho and Palermo Viejo. The beloved Argentine brands which decorate Plaza Serrano and Plaza Armenia feature some of Buenos Aires’ highest quality, and may we say, most fashionable gear. For even higher end boutiques, a day in Recoleta is a must. It’s no wonder the elegant avenues that are as iconic as Eva Peron’s graceful style are home to designers like Louis Vuitton and Hermès.

♦ Buenos Aires Craft Fairs

For delicately handmade trinkets and leather goods there’s no better place than Buenos Aires’ craft fairs, or ferias. Not only are these fairs in Recoleta (Plaza Francia), San Telmo (Defensa Street), and Palermo (Plaza Serrano and Armenia) brimming with booths of one of a kind pieces, the fairs themselves are the epicenter of energy and life during weekend mornings and afternoons in these neighborhoods. If you’re feeling adventurous, take it a step further with a trip to the Mataderos market just outside of the city limits. There you’ll find the sights, smells, sounds, traditional dances and games that are the traditions behind the gifts you’ll be able to carry home in your suitcase.